Thyroiditis – Types and Treatment
Inflammation of the thyroid gland is known as thyroiditis. Depending on the factor responsible for the swelling of the thyroid gland, thyroiditis is divided into three main categories – Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, De Quervain’s thyroiditis or subacute thyroiditis and silent thyroiditis.Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Most thyroiditis patients suffer from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the thyroid cells gradually lose their ability to produce the thyroid hormone. Although the thyroid cells could absorb the iodine molecules, they lose their ability to utilize iodine for manufacturing the thyroid hormone. In its effort to induce the thyroid gland to increase production of the thyroid hormone, the pituitary gland increases production of thyroid stimulating hormone. The thyroid gland responds by enlarging its size, leading to hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a chronic disease. It could only be treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
De Quervain’s thyroiditis
Also known as, subacute thyroiditis, De Quervain’s thyroiditis accounts for a small number of thyroiditis cases. People suffering from this thyroid disorder experience rapid swelling of the thyroid gland. Fever, lethargy, pain and tenderness of the thyroid gland and hyperthyroidism are the symptoms of De Quervain’s thyroiditis.
This thyroid disease subsides naturally within a few weeks. The patient needs bed rest. Aspirin is usually prescribed for reducing the inflammation of the thyroid gland. Occasionally, the inflammation is treated with cortisone and thyroid hormone replacement therapy. De Quervain’s thyroiditis usually does not recur. In rare cases, a person suffering from sub acute thyroiditis could develop hypothyroidism after the thyroid inflammation subsides.
Silent Thyroiditis
Silent thyroiditis shares several features with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and De Quervain’s thyroiditis. Silent thyroiditis usually affects young women after pregnancy. There is mild inflammation of the thyroid gland. People suffering from this thyroid disorder do not experience any pain in the thyroid gland.
Silent thyroiditis usually heals naturally within three months. If rapid heartbeat develops as a symptom of thyroid gland malfunction, bed rest and beta-blockers might be prescribed for treating the condition. However, people suffering from silent thyroiditis are sometimes susceptible to hypothyroidism. If hypothyroidism follows silent thyroiditis, indefinite thyroid replacement therapy is the only option to normalize the thyroid hormone level in the bloodstream.
